The NUM Methods- & and Biosample-Hub (NUM-MB) offers all researchers and infrastructures in the NUM comprehensive, easily accessible and needs-based support on methodology, biospecimens and specific aspects of regulatory affairs throughout the entire course of the study. The NUM MB is centrally networked as a crosssectional Research Infrastructure and maintains connections to all NUM-FIS. The epidemiology core is currently anchored in the methods hub with six areas of expertise: clinical epidemiology, genetic epidemiology - including omics data, patient-reported outcomes, paediatric and adolescent research, external care-related data (eVeDa, e.g. health insurance data) and clinical data sciences. In addition, ethics coordination is also located in the Methods Hub. The Biospecimen HUB takes care of all biospecimen aspects at NUM.
The NUM Methods- & and Biosample-Hub (NUM-MB) team met for a two-day face-to-face meeting at the Clinical Research Centre of Hannover Medical School. On the first day, the participants, who had travelled from NUM sites all over Germany, worked intensively on developing a concise formulation of the future vision and mission of NUM-MB.
The following day was characterised by an active exchange with representatives of other NUM Research Infrastructures (NUM-FIS). Topics such as, in particular, the delimitation of the advisory services, the existing interfaces between the individual NUM-FIS and the joint project kick-off meetings were discussed.
The NUM-MB team would like to thank all NUM FIS representatives who were able to actively participate in Hanover: NUM Study Network (NUM SN); NUM Clinical Epidemiology and Study Platform (NUKLEUS), NUM Platform for Surveillance and Rapid Response (NUM-SAR), NUM Platform for Autopsies and Pathology (NATON & NAREG), Specialist Network Infections (SNID) and NUM Platform for Imaging Data (RACOON). Close dialogue is also already taking place with other NUM FIS.
We are particularly grateful for the constructive discussions on the existing and future advisory services offered by the NUM-MB. At this face-to-face meeting, the central and important role of NUM-MB as an interface between methodology, biosample management and the NUM-FIS structures was emphasised and it was shown that research can be sustainably strengthened through cooperation and exchange.